Shoe-lace fastener.



Patented Oct. 30, E900.

A. KHQEMNGEH. SHDE. LACE FASTENER.

(Application filed June 17, 1898.)

(E60 Fiindei.)

ih esscs Q1 M- Q/ 72? M iing is a specification.

SHOE-LACE FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,643, dated October .Ap: lication filed June 17,1898. Serial No. 683,726. (No models I i' To a117 who-In, it may concern;

Be it known that I, AUGUSTA E. KROENIN- GER, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Shoe-Lace Fastener, of which the follow- Shoes of the type secured by means of laces are frequently a source of trouble and discomfort to the wearer by reason of the laces becoming untied and loosening the shoe, thereby. requiring a relacing or retying, which cannot atall times be conveniently eifected.

It. is the object of the present invention to devise means for securing the endv portions of the lace when tied into a bow-knot as well as the parts of the bow-knot, said means being in the s ape o a clasp comprising companion plates pivotally connected and having a spring interposed between them with all the fastening portions below the pivotal connection, and the efiect of the spring is thereby more strongly exerted, and being about the center a greater securing-inclosnre is provided below the pivotal connection, as well as portions of the plates above the said pivotal connection adapted for free movement toward each other in removing or pulling the fastening by opening the parts of the plates below the pivotal connection.

In order to secure the full benefits of the invention, the plates comprise a series or plurality of radial points having their terminal portio; bent inwardly to form spurs or barbs to make positive engagement with the ends of the lace, and also supplied with the intermediate inwardly-extending barbs to grip into the bow-knot or loops of the same and prevent the latter from working loose. To prevent the loss of the clasp or disconnection thereof from the shoe, a clasp connection is provided and secured at one extremity to the shoe, and at the other is made fast to the clasp, and thereby the fastener is always in convenient or accessible position for instant use when desired.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a shoe, showing the improved clasp applied thereto in operative position. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the fastener. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the fastener. Fig. tis a side elevation of the AUGUSTA E. KROENINGER, OF SAN ANTONIO,

fastener. Fig. 5 is a'detal perspe ctive viewi of one of the plates of the fastieherlooking toward the inner side of t'hfe' sa'me. a detail perspective VieWv shpWin form of flexible connection for thdfastener.

Similar numerals of referencea're employed to indicate corresponding a'rts 'n'tlie several' views. my 3 i: 1 1.1:

The clasp or fastener iscom'pose'd OE -GOIIP panion plates of duplicat" 'coustr'uclionfeach plate having a pair of em t2 at directly-op}- positc points, which are'adapted' o colincide' and are supplied with openings to receivea pivot-pin 3 by means of whichtheplatesare movably connected, the "said" pin" passing between the adjacent port'ionsof 'the"plate1at the upper part thereof, and therebyleaving the greater portion of the plates terrier-lie pin free for performing the function of "a fastener. I

A coil-spring 4 is mounted on the pin 3, and its end portions are extended and engage with the upper inner portions of the said plates to force them apart and correspondingly press the lower end portions of said plates together in normal position to grip the shoe-lace placed between them with security and firmness. The plates 1 are formed with a plurality of radial points 5, which regularly taper and have their terminals bent inwardly to produce spurs or barbs 6, which penetrate the shoe-lace and make positive engagement therewith and prevent slipping of the fas- 85 tener when in position. The points 5 are divergent and have considerable space between them, and by their divergence, together with the tendency to close instituted by the spring 4:, the parts of the tied lace are held in proper relative position and prevented from working loose, and the fastener itself is also held in its applied position wit hout liability of slipping. Additionalspnrs 9 are provided intermediate the poiuts 5 and in the angle formed by adjacent spurs. Said additional spurs extend inwardly and are of such length as to provide an intermediate fastening to catch into the loops of the tied shoe-lace, and thus obviate the tendency of the said loops to work loose or pull aud'dispose the fastener in irregular position after a positive application. The plates are struck'up from sheet metal and are stifiened and strengthenedby hav ing the points 5 pressed outwardly between their opposite converging sideedges. By pressing the points 5-outwardly intermediate of their longitudinal edges inner extensions are formed which engage with the shoe-lace and materially assist :in preventing the acci dental displacement of the fastening when-in position. MOl'8O\'6l'-,"byIhlS-(JQIISUIIGUOD the inner faces of "the plates are tprovided with recesses-in their opposing sides, thereby enabling the knot to be received comfortably between the plates, whereas the outer end portions of the points will gripthe loops and the loose ends of the lace and maintain all the partsof the law in proper relat'ion.

In order to guard against the'loss of, the

fastener or its displacement when the shoe is removed and laid aside, a flexible connection,

, as a chain or cord 7, is applied to the fastener by means of'a ring 10, provided at one end of the pivot-pin '3. The chain or cord 7 is adapted to be passed through the staple fastoned tothe top portion of a shoe and may at .times he slipped through anleyelet adjacently located or secured around one of the lacingstuds inaccordance with the type of shoe on which the device is used, a pin or other suit able means of securing the cord to the shoe being also provided. This connection is very effective in preventing accidental disengage ment-fro'mthe shoe, and the'barhs 9 are exceptioually etIective in the retention of the parts of the tied shoe-lace.

Having thus described theinvent-ion, what i is claimed as new isotally-counected ears near-the upper extremities thereof and a coiled spring surrounding the pivotal device'and operating to hold the lower portions of the plates normally in con, tact, the ears, pivotal device and spring being confined completely between the upper extremities of the plates and the latter having ltelow the center-thereof widely-separated dis: Y

tinct conirergimg points with inturnod lower" terminals bearing against each other and A shoe-lace fastener comprising a pair of plates provided with inwardly-extending pivadapted tocatch and hold the loose ends .of

I claim the foregoing ,as-

my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' AUGUSTA E. KROENINGER. Witnesses:

' CHARLES KROENINGER, .CHAs. W. BEEKMANN. 

